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Peroxisomes in mice fed a diet supplemented with low doses of fish oil

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Lipids

Abstract

The influence of low dietary doses (0.1 and 0.8% w/w) of a commercial fish oil preparation on peroxisomes in normal mice was studied and compared to the known strong inductive effects of high (10%) fish oil diets. Low fish oil doses were chosen to supply the mice with a concentration of docosahexaenoic acid, which was beneficial to patients with a peroxisomal disease. Peroxisomes were evaluated by cytochemical, morphometric, and enzymological techniques. The 0.1% fish oil diet had no effect on peroxisomes in liver, heart, and kidney even after prolonged treatment. The 0.8% diet did not change the peroxisomal number nor the catalase (EC 1.11.1.6) activity in the liver. Hepatic peroxisomal β-oxidation, however, was increased by 50% after 14 d. This was accompanied by reduced peroxisomal size. The 0.8% diet also caused a small increase (+25%) in myocardial catalase activity. No effect was observed in kidneys. Our results indicate that in mice a low (<0.8%) dietary fish oil dose has no or only a slight effect on hepatic peroxisomal β-oxidation. This may be of particular interest to patients with a peroxisomal fatty acid β-oxidation defect and who display a severe deficiency of docosahexaenoic acid—diets supplemented with low fish oil doses will improve the docosahexaenoic acid level without adding a strong load to the disturbed fatty acid metabolism.

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Abbreviations

DHA:

docosahexaenoic acid (22∶6n−3)

EPA:

eicosapentaenoic acid (20∶5n−3)

NALD:

neonatal adrenoleukodystrophy

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. North France Center for the Study of Childhood Epilepsy, 59037, Lille Cedex, France

    J. Vamecq

  2. Menselijke Anatomie & Embryologie, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, B-1090, Brussels, Belgium

    C. Van den Branden, D. De Craemer & M. Pauwels

Authors
  1. C. Van den Branden
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  2. D. De Craemer
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  3. M. Pauwels
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  4. J. Vamecq
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Van den Branden, C., De Craemer, D., Pauwels, M. et al. Peroxisomes in mice fed a diet supplemented with low doses of fish oil. Lipids 30, 701–705 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02537795

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02537795

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